By Shira Kramer, Editor-in-Chief
Manhattan has everything. Bright lights, endless shopping and world-class food. But, did you know that the city that never sleeps does not currently have a casino?
Prior to 2022, only certain types of gambling were allowed in New York State. New York had horse racing and lotteries, but no options to fit a casino like the ones in Las Vegas. Three years ago, however, the New York State Legislature approved a process that would award three commercial licenses for casinos in downstate New York.
Therefore, in recent months, many companies have proposed plans to procure these licences, including a Jay-Z-backed plan for a Caesars Palace (one of the largest casinos in Las Vegas) in Times Square.
But, in New York City, opening a casino isn’t as simple as buying the land and building one. Interested developers need permits. In order to receive an allowance, a local board known as the Community Advisory Committee has to vote to approve the plan and only then can the licences be given out. So far, all viable plans have been denied.
A group of local politicians have echoed residents’ concerns about congestion and safety. “As elected representatives of Midtown East, we commend the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for conducting an inclusive, transparent, and collaborative process that prioritized gathering comprehensive community input,” they wrote in a joint statement. “Our neighbors on the East Side of Manhattan have communicated to us, and to the CAC, through hours of public hearings, significant concerns regarding increased congestion, public safety, and the potential deterioration of the quality of life this project would introduce into our community.”
Supporters of the projects, however, emphasize the economic benefits. Michael Hershman, CEO of the Soloviev Group, has proposed Freedom Plaza as a potential spot for an underground casino, which, along with above-ground development, would be an $11 billion development he says would generate massive revenue for the city.
“Proposing historic levels of public benefits, the $11 billion project will activate a long-dormant lot with urgently-needed new housing, create a huge public park advancing community connection to the waterfront, bring in dynamic hotels with diverse dining and modern entertainment that will power thousands of union jobs and generate revenues funding hundreds of millions in legally-binding community benefits,” Hershman said in a statement. “A transformative, generational piece of urban planning not seen in NYC in decades, Freedom Plaza embodies our core belief that development must serve the people who live, work, and visit here.”
Although the plan was denied, Hershman insists his dream isn’t over. “We remain confident that one license should be awarded in Manhattan,” he said. “Attracting more tourists than any other borough, the city should have a fully integrated resort that is fitting of its position as the global capital of the world.” While the Freedom Plaza plan is out of the running for now, five other proposals are still competing for licenses in New York City. State gambling regulators are expected to make their final decisions by the end of the year.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is in favor of the projects, with his representative on CAC voting yes. “Casinos can bring jobs. It can bring stability, tourism,” he told Spectrum News in an interview. “So I was surprised at some of the negative votes. Let the final process make the decision. We should not be stopping them at this local level.”
For now, Manhattan remains without a casino. With billions of dollars and brand new jobs on the line, the question isn’t just if a casino will come to the island, but when and how it will happen.
Photo Credit: Unsplash